Eighteen months of hard work and soul-searching culminated in yesterday's tough call by New Zealand under-17 women's soccer coach Paul Temple to shed five players from his 26-strong squad for this month's Fifa World Championship.
It has been a rigorous build-up for the squad with 10 players havingmoved to Auckland to be part of Temple's meticulous regime.
"While naming a team like this is never easy, we have been pretty honest with the players all the way through," said Temple. "We have been really fortunate in the way the local schools have supported us.
"In two cases, the whole family moved to Auckland. Three of the girls are boarding at Epsom Girls Grammar and others have been at Long Bay, Takapuna Grammar and Mt Albert Grammar. The two girls doing their schooling by correspondence will sit their exams at Takapuna Grammar."
Temple said juggling soccer and schoolwork had been a challenge.
All players at the North Harbour-based 16-team tournament must have been born after January 1, 1991.
"We have players born in 1992, 1993 and one, Katie Bowen, in 1994," said Temple. "She is an exceptional talent. She did not come into the squad until after the Future Stars Tournament involving Germany, the United States and Australia in February but has done so well since."
The biggest breakthrough for the team, who have played 11 internationals in preparing for the championships, came after the Future Stars when they twice beat Australia 4-0 in Canberra and then held the Australian under-20 side to 2-4.
Expectations are high but Temple remains realistic.
In players like Annalie Longo and Caitlin Campbell, he has their senior international experience to call on. Nine of the players have just got back from Chile where they played with the New Zealand under-20 team. Striker Rosie White won the golden boot at that tournament.
Temple's next task will be naming his starting X1 for the tournament opener against Canada at North Harbour Stadium on October 28.
New Zealand's other group matches are against Denmark and, in a match to be played in Wellington, Colombia.
CUP SCHEDULE * October 28 v Canada, North Harbour Stadium, 7pm.
* November 1 v Denmark, North Harbour Stadium, 4pm.
* November 4 v Colombia, Wellington Stadium, 7pm.
